Signal apparatus



Jan. 20, 1931. L. E. DEMASTERS SIGNAL APPARATUS Filed April 8, 1925 llmlll JVVUQ/H tO'b LE. E MSTERS.

Patented 20, 1931 LEMIUEL 11 nms'rms,

PATENT OFFICE OF PORTLAND, OREGON SIGNAL a'rraaarus Application filed April 8,

This invention relates generally to the protection of life and property against burglars and other intruders, and particularly to means for assisting in their apprehension without the sounding of an alarm.

The first object of this invention is to rovide a signal whereby a policeman or ot ers outside of a dwelling or building can be informed that an unauthorized person has entered the premises without alarming the intruder, thereby frightening him awa'y and preventing or adding to the diflicul'ty of capturing him.

The second object is to provide a signal apparatus in which the signal is not noticeable from within the building, or at least from that point'at which the signal is put into operation by the intruder.

The ,third'object is to so construct the device that having once been put into operation by the intruder it will require a knowledge of the secret location of the releasing mechanism in order to stop the signaling taking place on the exterior of the building.

2 These, and other objects, willbecome more apparent from the specification following as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: 4

The figure in the drawing is a somewhat diagrammatic'view of the device which, for

the sake of illustration, is shown as including a metal box having a bottom 10 and sides 11, preferably provided with a closure (not shown). For the sake of adding clearness the sides ll'are broken away in section. On the bottom 10 is secured a standard 12 by means of the screws 13.

On the standard 12 is secured a laterally projecting arm 14 and a forwardly pro'ect- 4 ing arm 15 by means of the bolt 16w ich forms a core for the electromagnet'-'17 Onthe end of the arm 15 is hinged the ammature 18 whose extending lip 19 beats againstthe pin 20 on the spring contact arm 21 which is insulated from the contact arm 22, also mounted on the-arm 15.

On the outer end .ofthe magnet 17; isiformed an arm23 to which is pivotally attached a latch 24 whose end 25 is held by gravity in 5 contact with the armature 18. A p unger 26 1925. Serial No. 21,553.

passes through a side 11 of the box,and is supported by the guide 27. The end 28 of the plunger 26 is adapted to engage the under side of the latch 24 for the purpose of releasing same.

An electric lamp 29 of any desired color or combination of colors, preferably mounted at the gable of the house out of sight from any roomliable to be entered by a-burglar, and preferably easily accessible to the member of the household responsible for the setting of the signal.

A wire 30 connects the contact arm 22 with the lamp 29. The wire 30 connects the lamp 29 with one side of the lighting circuit 31. The wire 32 connects the contact arm 21 with the lighting circuit 31. A separate circuit consisting of the wire 33, including the switch 34 and connecting with'the battery 35, is provided with a circuit-closing switch 36 of any desired type, which, for the purpose of illustration, is shown in connection with a stair way 37. Other lead wires 38 and 39 may be carried from the wires 33 to other circuitclosing devices (not shown), but located at points where it would be necessar for the intruder to pass and actuate same 1n a manner to energize the magnet 17.

It mustbe clearly understood that the lamp 29 is outside of the building whose wall is indicated at 40.

For the-purposeof expediting the installation of the device, binding posts 41 are indicated on the bottom 10 of the box.

' The operation of the device is as follows: For instance, when retirin for the night the occupant of the dwelling clhses the switch 34. If the bur lar enters the premises and in so doing orfiuring' 'his movements about the house, closes the;sw-itch, 36, or an of the other circuit closing devices placed a ong the wires 33, the1inagnet'17 will become energized drawing its armature 18 against the pole pieces. However short the duration that this circriibclosing operation may be it will permit the latch 24 to fall sufliciently far to have 7 its end rest upon. the upper. end 28 of the plunger 26, which action: will cause'the end 25 of the latch 24 to hold the armature 18 against the pole pieces in the same manner as sis . can take the necessary steps to eifect the capture of the burglar.

It must be understood that the exact shape and arrangement of the parts above described are immaterial and that many changes can be made in the construction of this device without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I am aware that many forms of alarms and signaling devices have been constructed in the past, I therefore do not claim such devices broadly;;but I do intend to cover all such forms and modifications thereof as fall fairly within the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a magnet, a straight 1ever spaced therefrom and centrally pivoted substantially in line with the axis of the magnet, an armature pivoted to han between the lever and the magnet, means yie' dingly holding said armature spaced from the ma et and in engagement with the lever to hol the end of the lever distant from the magnet in an elevated position, and means engaging the distant end of said lever so as to support the lever in line with the axis of the magnet when the armature releases the lever by bein fattracted to the magnet, said lever thereby ocking the armature to the magnet.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the lever engaging means is a manually movable plunger whereby the distant end of the lever may be lifted to permit the armature to return to normal position spaced from the magnet, under urge ofsaid yielding means.

3. In a switch for a burglar alarm, an electro-ma armature or said magnet consisting of an arm substantially parallel to the axis of the core and one arm substantially at right angles to. the said axis, saidar'niature pivoted near the junction of its two arms, a gravity operatjed lever engaging one arm of the armature at an acute angle when the magnet is de energized and tending to force the said arm 'ainst the core, said lev'erbeing' ivoted near the armature engaging end, a eat contact spring engaging the otherarm of the armature and tending to force the first arm away from the core and to hold the lever in the poi -tion recited, a second contact s ring-in prox-- .imity to but spaced from the rst mentioned.

spring, means carried by each spring for at tachment to a circuit as for example a signal system, said lever upon the energizing of the magnet and consequent attraction of one arm of the armaturemoving to a position at right angles to said attracted arm, whereby upon et having-a core, a right angular LEMUEL E. DEMASTERS. 

